Apparatus for treatment of building blocks



May 12, 1916-4 F. HINSE APPARATUS FOR TREATMENTOF BUILDING BLOCKS FiledJune 26, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 huhu 5. my@

' /z armen/ey May 12, 1964 F, HlNsE 3,132,637

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF BUILDING BLOCKS United States Patent3,132,637 APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT .0F BUHDING BLGCKS Franz Hinse, 15Landsnechtstrasse, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany Filed lune 26, 1961,Ser. No. 119,534 Claims priority, applicatien Germany June 27, 1960 5Claims. (Cl. 12S-4) The present invention relates to apparatus fortreatment of building blocks of the type which are utilized in mortarorbinder-free construction of building walls and other structures. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to precision finishing treatment ofartificial building blocks of the general character described in mycopending application Serial No. 85,144, filed I an. 26, 1961.

In mortar-free wall constructions, at least the upper side and theunderside of each Prefabricated building block must be finished withsufficient precision to insure that the load is uniformly distributed toall zones of a block. In otherrwords, it is necessary to insure that theunderside of each blocks is in full face-to-face Contact With the upperside or sides of the building blocks located therebelow, and also thatthe upper side of each block is in similar face-to-face Contact with theunderside of a block in the next higher row. Such precision finish ofthe blocks insures that the Wall extends in a vertical plane and reducesthe likelihood of breakage or crumbling 'of blocks which can occur ifthe distribution of loads is not uniform in all zones of the wallconstruction.V The 'blocks usually consist of concrete, clay or a likematerial, and considerable difficulties were encountered in precisionfinishing of such blocks because of excessive wear on finishing tools,because known precision finish- -ing operations consume too much time,and because the blocks must be transported to the finishing plants to beVsubsequently returned to the locale of actual use.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide an apparatus for precision finishing two or more sides ofartificial building blocks which is constructed and assembled in such aWay that it may process a large number of building blocks within a shortperiod of time, which is capable of precision finishing a large numberof building blocks Without necessitating an exchange or resharpening offinishing instrumentalities,

which may simultaneously treat two or more building blocks, and whichmay be conveniently operated by a 'small' number of workmen.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aboveoutlined characteristics which may be put to use at the constructionsite or at the locale where the building blocks are formed, dried orotherwise processed so that the building blocks need not be transportedfor the sole purpose of obtaining a precision finish prior to stackinginto the form of a wall structure or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the abovedescribed type which may be rapidly and conveniently converted forprecision finishing of differently configurated and/ or dimensionedbuilding blocks, which insures that the consecutively treated blocks arefinished with identical degrees of precision, and which is capable ofplacing one or more building blocks into l.

requisite position for treatment and of removing the precision finishedblocks in a semior fully automatic way. An additional object of myinvention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlinedcharacteristics which is equally useful for precision Vfinishing ofsimple (i.e. substantially fiat) as Well as of very complicated (eg.grooved, channeled or otherwise configurated) surfaces on concrete orlike building blocks.`

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatusfor finishing building blocks which may t 3,132,637 Patented May 12,1964 ICC 2 t be utilized for treatment of blocks in situ, i.e. thebuilding blocks may remain on their drying racks or other types ofsupports during the precision finishing operation.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove v.outlined characteristics which generates less dust than theapparatus of heretofore known design of which I am aware at this time,whichV comprises a comparatively small number of components parts, andwhich is capable of properly finishing twor or more surfaces on one ormore building blocks in a simultaneous operation.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provideza novel cutter foruse in the apparatus of the above outlined characteristics. y

With the above objects in view, the. invention resides in the provisionof an apparatus for precision finishing the surfaces of artificialbuilding blocks which comprises a milling machine including at least onerotary milling cutter, means for rotating the cutter, and means formoving the cutter with respect to the building blocks yor vice versa.VCertain other features of the invention reside in the provision ofspecial milling cutters which preferably assume the shape'of rollers andconsist of a plurality of ltoothed coaxial substantially disk-shapedcutting elements,

in the provision of specially constructed and mounted cutting teeth forthe cutting elements, in the provision of specially constructedsupporting and biasing means Yfor the building blocks which prevent Vashifting of the blocks during the milling operation, in the provision ofa special lifting and transferring arrangement which is adapted to movethe blocks into and from the apparatus, and in the provision of meansfor preventing yrelative-movements of the cutters during a precisionfinishing operation to thereby insure that the surfaces of consecutivelytreated building blocks are yfinished with equal degrees of precision.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in-particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its methodof-operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,will be best understood from the following `detailed description of aspecific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich: g

FIG. l is a side elevational view of an apparatus ern- Vbodying myinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus, further showing a pair of`block-engaging members which are utilized for transferring the blocks toand from the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a building block; and i FIG. 7 is afragmentary view of a differentbuilding block.,l Referring now iiigreater detail to the illustrated ernbodiments, and first to FIGS. l to3, there is shown an apparatus for treatment of buildingy blocks whichcom- Vvprises a wheel-mounted vertical milling machine including a mainsupporting means or frame 1 mounted on Wheels 1a and havinglongitudinally extending parallel horizontal slides or guideways 1b fora transversely extending carriage in the form of a saddle 1c. Thiscarriage adjustably supports two spaced columns 2, 2: each of whichcomprises a composite rotary substantially roller-shaped milling cutter2', 2a', respectively. The arbors 11, 11a

`and/or the lower props alsace? a of the respective cutters 2', 2a arevertical (see particularly FIG. 4). The artificial building blocks 3 areplaced onto pairwise arranged lower props 5 carried by a pair ofelongated profiled beams 5a which constitute the means for supportingthe blocks and whose ends are secured to a pair of brackets 5b providedat the longitudinal ends of the frame f1. iThe beams 5a are located at alevel above and are disposed between and are parallel with the guideways1b. The pairwise arranged transversely extending props 5 Whosepreferably serrated upper sides are horizontal insure that the buildingblocks 3 are properly supported thereon. The upper sides of the blocksare engaged by the heads of pairwise arranged upper props 7 whichproject downwardly from a longitudinally extending bridge 6 disposedabove the beams 5a. This bridge is provided at its ends with preferablyhydraulic double-acting cylinders 6a, 6b which are reciprocablealong'vertical piston rods 6a', 6b secured to and extending upwardlyfrom the brackets 5b. I-f the bridge 6 is suiciently heavy, its weightby itself can bias the props 7 into retaining engagement with the'building blocks 3, but it is equally possible to introduce a pressureiiuid to the upper ends of the Vcylinders 6a, 6b so as to force thebridge and the props 7 in downward direction and to thereby insure thatthe blocks cannot move with respect to each other and with respect tothe props during a milling operation. In order to permit convenientremoval of blocks 3 from the machine, a pressure fluid is introduced tothe lower ends of the cylinders 6a, 6b in order to move the cylindersand 'the bridge upwardly and away from the props 5. The

conduits leading to the cylinders 6a, 6b, the pistons in thesecylinders, the various control valves, and the source of pressure fluidare not shown in FiGS. l to 3 because their exact construction forms nopart of the present invention. The biasing means 'for the buildingblocks may also assume a different form, e.g. the upper props 7 may becombined with suitable springs (not shown) which insure that the blocksare held lagainst movement when engaged by the cutters 2', 2a. Ofcourse, it is also possible to provide separate hydraulic or pneumaticbiasing means for each prop 5 and/or 7 and to rigidly connect the bridged to the brackets 5b.

The piston rods 6a', 6b' constitute the lower endportions of two spaceduprights 8, 8a, respectively, these uprights forming part of twoblocklifting and transporting assemblies which are utilized for movingthe building blocks to and/or from the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.Each lifting assembly further comprises a substantially horizontal boom9, 9a which is swingable with or about the respective upright, and anelectric motor-driven winch 9', 9a, respectively. The hooks of thoseWinches vmay engage the eyes at the upper ends of converging armsforming part of elongated block engaging members Elfi which are providedwith horizontally extending prongs 10a adapted to enter into opencavities 3a extending transversely between the upper side and theunderside of each building block 3. The motors 9", 9a" of the Winchesare preferably reversible so that the operator may cause the members *10to lift and to lower the blocks 3 and, by turning the booms 9, 9a withor with respect to the uprights 8, 8a, the operator may transfer theblocks from drying racks (not shown) onto the props 5 of the blocksupporting means 5a or vice versa. In order to speed up the treatment ofblocks, one of the members 10 may be operated to engage and to lift saythree blocks from a drying rack while the other engaging member is heldin position to immediately engage the blocks momentarily supported onthe props 5 and to transfer these blocks from the apparatus as soon asthe milling operation is completed while the first engaging membersimultaneously moves a new set of blocks onto the props. The booms 9 maybe swung by hand or by suitable motors, not shown. Also, the entireapparatus may be propagated by a suitable internal combustion engine orthe like so as to advance the frame 1 along a row of building blocksmounted on drying racks from which the blocks are intermittentlydeposited onto the same racks or onto suitable conveyor means fortransfer to lfurther processing stations or to storage.

According to another modification of my invention which is not shown inthe drawings, the frame 1 may be constructed in such a way that theentire apparatus may travel along a row of building blocks placed ondrying racks or otherwise shaped supports so that the columns 2, 2atravel along the opposite lateral sides of the aligned blocks and theircutters 2', 2a perform the necessary milling operation. Also, thecarriage 1c may remain stationary and the building blocks may betransported by a suitable conveyor through the gap between the cutters2', 2a. In such instances, the milling apparatus must only be providedwith means for rotating the arbors 11, lia. Furthermore, it will bereadily understood that the apparatus of my invention may be adapted forsimultaneous treatment of say four or six surfaces on a group of alignedbuilding blocks. Such modifications will readily occur to personsskilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that each of the cutters 2', 2a maycomprise a plurality of substantially disk-shaped coaxial cuttingelements of cylindrical or frustoconical shape, depending on the desiredconfiguration of the blocks 3. For example, the blocks 3 may be formedwith undersides 13 having two marginal grooves 14 for the tongues 15provided at the upper side 2S of an adjacent building block. Suchtongue-and-groove connections between theradjacent building blocksinsure that the blocks are properly stacked in a Wall construction orthe like. It will be readily understood that the two columns 2, 2a maybe moved further away from each other if the operator desires to subjectthe end faces of one, two or more building blocks to a precisionfinishing treatment. Though FIGS. l and 2 show blocks with fiat endfaces, these end faces may also have a more complicated configuration,eg. by being formed with tongues and grooves, with centrally locatedrecesses and complementary projections, with cutouts and/or otherirregularities.

The composite cutter 2' comprises two outermost diskshaped cuttingelements 16 whose teeth treat the end faces of the tongues 15, pairwisearranged intermediate cutting elements 17 which treat the inner sidefaces of the tongues 15 and the adjacent portions of the upper side 23of the block 3, and a pair of frustoconical central cutting elements 18which treat the walls of a longitudinally extending substantiallyV-shaped groove 19 in the upper side s The other cutter 2a' comprisestwo outermost cutting .elements 20 which treat the walls of the grooves14, and

four central cutting elements 21 which treat the remaining portion ofthe underside 13 of the block 3. If the cutting elements 18 are replacedby substantially disk-shaped cylindrical cutting elements, one can treata Prefabricated surface such as that of the building block 3A shown inFIG. 5. Alternately, by utilizing six pairs of cutting elements 1S on acommon arbor, one can precision finish the prefabricated surface of abuilding block 3B of the type shown in FIG. 6. Many other combinationsare possible.

It will be noted that the teeth 22 of the cutting elements 16-18 and20-21 preferably enclose acute angles with the axes of the respectivearbors 11, 11a. Furthermore, the teeth of the adjacent cutting elementsare preferably inclined in opposite directions in a manner as shown inFIG. 4. The adjacent teeth of each cutting element are sufficientlyspaced from each other to provide passages for automatic evacuation ofchips when the arbors 11, 11a rotate. In addition, spacer elements inthe form of washers or the like may be inserted between the adjacentcutting elements to provide additional paths for the y22 on theoutermost cutting elements 16 and 20 are inclined inwardly toward thecenter of the respective cutter 2', 2a' so as to avoid chipping of thesharp edges between the upper side 25 and the underside 13 on the onehand,

and the lateral sides 23, 24 on the other hand. As will be readilyunderstood by referring to FIG. 3 or 4, that side which is the underside(13) when a finished block is actually used in a wall construction isthe left-hand lateral side in FIG. 4, and the actual upper side 25 isthe right-hand lateral side in FIG. 4 because the blocks 3 are treatedbetween a pair of upright columns 2, 2a and, therefore, are -turnedthrough 90 degrees when placed onto Ithe lower props 5. Of course, theselection of the side 13 as the underside and the selection of the side25 as the upper side is arbitrary and is made solely for the purposes ofbetter understanding of my invention since the blocks 3 may be assembledinto a wall construction by turning the sides down and by turning thesides 13 up, if desired.

It has been found that the milling machine of my invention may operatewith a tolerance of 0.1 mm. or thereabouts which is amply suiiicient toinsure that the blocks may be assembled with requisite degree ofprecision. As a rule, the cutters 2', 2a will remove from thesides 13,25 two layers whose combined thickness is 1 cm. or thereabouts. This isconsidered necessary because the molds for the manufacture of buildingblocks are constructed with such tolerances. In addition, it is notpossible to determine in advance the exact shrinkage or deformation ofnewly formed building blocks while the blocks are subjected to a dryingand hardening treatment. Such tolerances are observable regardless ofWhether the blocks are formed by compression in molds or by a bakingprocess. y

FIG. 5 shows a portion of a cutting element 16 with a single tooth 22,the other teeth having been omitted in this illustration for the sake ofclarity. It will be noted that the tooth 22 is mounted on a holder 26which is substantially radially reciprocable in a peripheral recess 27of the cutting element 16 and may be locked in selected position by apair of cooperating wedges 28 or the like. Such mounting of the holder26 enables an operator to adjust the tooth 22 with utmost precisionafter the cutting edge of the tooth was subjected to a certain wear. Ifthe tooth 22 consists of Widia cutting metal, it may be used in thetreatment of say 50,000 building blocks before its holder 26 requires anadjustment with respect to the cutting element. It will be noted thatthe construction of the cutting elements 16-18 and 20-21 resemblessomewhat the construction of certain types of stone cutting sawsutilized in the manufacture of tombstones and the like. After eachadjustment of the respective holder 26, the teeth 22 can be used intreatment of next 50,000 building blocks and the tolerances of thenished blocks will remain within about 0.1 mm. provided, of course, thatthe teeth consist of Widia or a like highly wear-resistant tool steel.Additional adjustments to insure precision finish of treated blocksurfaces are possible by moving the columns 2, 2a along the carriage 1ctoward each other to compensate for the Wear on the teeth 22. Forexample, the means for moving the columns along the carriage 1c and forthereby adjusting the spacing between the axes of the cutters 2', 2a maycornprise spindles 29 provided with handwheels or the like. One suchspindle 29 is shown in FIG. 3.

In the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3, the columns 2, 2a and their respectivecutters are compelled to move in the same direction because the columnsare mounted on a common carriage 1c. However, if the composition of thebuilding blocks permits it, the columns 2, 2a may be moved independentlyof each other in the same. direction or in opposite directions as longas the distance between Ythe arbors 11, 11a remains the same during amilling operation. In other words, the means 29 should maintain thecolumns 2, 2a at a constant distance from each other while the cutters2', 2a' are in contact with Ya row of building blocks 3 and whilethejcarriage 1c is caused to advance along the guideways 1a;

The means for rotating ,the cutters 2', 2a comprises a pairof electricmotors 30, 30a which, through suitable reduction gearing (not shown),may simultaneously move the cartridge along the guideways 1b, e.g.through a rackand-pinion drive or the like. The motors 30, 30a arepreferably ofthe reversible type andare adapted to rotate the cutters atvariable speeds such as are necessary for optimum finishing treatment ofdifferent types of building blocks. The speed at which the carriage '1cis moved along the guideways 1b and the speed at which the arbors 11,11a. 'are rotated must ber controlled with greatest precision when thecutters 2, 2a reach the end of' a row of building blocks because thelikelihood of crumbling, chipping or other damage to treated surfacesand the generation ofY dust is thenmore pronounced than in'thevmiddle ofa building block. In addition, proper control of the rotary speeds ofthe cutters reducesthe formation of dust duringthe entire millingoperation and is also necessary to reduce the-wear on the teeth 22 as-well as to insure optimum treatment of the surfaces of building blockswhose composition and hardness may vary within a very wide range. It hasbeen found that good results can be attained if the rpm. of the arbors11, 11a is comparatively low and if the forward speed of the carriage 1cis comparatively high.

The wheels 1a are assumed to comprise pneumatic tires, but it will bereadily understood that they may be replaced by flanged wheels of thetype used on railroad cars and that the apparatus may be moved on railsto travel along a row of dried building blocks.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specic aspects of this invention and,therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehendedwithin the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

l. An apparatus for precision finishing the surfaces of artificialbuilding blocks, comprising in combination, a frame having elongatedhorizontal guideways; a carriage mounted on and movable longitudinallyalong said guideways; a pair of spaced rotary milling cutters mounted onsaid carriage, said cutters having vertical axes of rotation; means forrotating said cutters; block supporting means disposed intermediate saidcutters and parallel with said guideways, said supporting means adaptedto support at least one block thereon; means located above saidsupporting means for biasing a block supported by said supporting meansand for thereby retaining the block during the precision finishingtreatment by said cutters; .and means for moving said carriage alongsaid guideways whereby the cutters treat the lateral surfaces of theblock.

2. An apparatus for precision finishing the surfaces of artificialbuilding blocks, comprising lin combination, a frame having elongatedhonizontal guideways; a carriage mounted on and movable longitudinallyof said gui-deways; a pair of spaced rotary milling cutters mounted onsaid carriage, said cutters having ventical axes of rotation; means forrotating said cutters; block supporting means mounted on said frameintermediate said cutters, said supporting means adapted tosimultaneously support a pluralgage the upper sides of blocks suppontedon said firstV named props, and means for urging said bridge and saidlast named props in downward direction.

3. An apparatus for precision finishing the suraifecs .of articalbuilding blocks, comprising in combination, a dname having elongatedhorizontal `guideways; a carn'age mounted on and movable longitudinallyof said guideways; a pair of spaced rota-ry mill-ing cutters mounted onsaid carriage, said cutters having vertical axes of rotation; means forrotating said cutters; block supporting means mounted on said frameintermediate said cutters, said supporting means adapted tosimultaneously suppont a plurality of aligned building blocks aridcompnising a pair of lower props yfor each building block; a bridgesubstantially parallel with said guideways and mounted in said frameabove said supporting means; a plurality of upper props connected ftofand extending downwardly from said bridge for engaging the upper sidesof building blocks supponteid by said lower props, tand duid-operatedmeans for biasing said bridge in downward `direction whereby said upperand lower props hold the blocks aga-inst movement with respect to saidsupponting means.

4. An yapparatus las set forth in claim 4, whe-rein said biasing meanscomprises hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies operatively connectedwith said bridge and said frame.

5. An apparatus 'for precision nisbing the surfaces of art-iliciallbuilding bloclcs, comprising in combination, cutter supporting meanshaving elongated guideways; a carriage mounted on and movablelongitudinally along said guideways; stationary block supporting means;a pair of spaced rot-ary milling cutter means mounted on said carriage.and located on opposite sides of said block supporting means, saidcutter means having taxis of rotation extending substantially normal tosaid guideways; means for moving said carriage along said guideways;stationary holding means above said block supporting means for securelyholding a block supported on said stationary block suppont means; andmeans for rotating said cutter mean-s.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS787,546 Wilson Apr. 18, 1905 1,123,038 'Tucker et al Dec. 29, 19141,239,480 Hardin Sept. 11, 19.17 1,877,269 Colgren Sept. 13, 19322,058,731 Shernil Oct. 27, 1936 2,065,100' Romaine Dec. 22, 1936 FOREIGNPATENTS 3,607 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1868 of 1868 4,775' Norway Sept 20,1895 185,174 Germany May 16, 1907 447,595 Iftaly Apr. 20, 1949

5. AN APPARATUS FOR PRECISION FINISHING THE SURFACES OF ARTIFICIALBUILDING BLOCKS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATIN, CUTTER SUPPORTING MEANSHAVING ELONGATED GUIDEWAYS; A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON AND MOVABLELONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID GUIDEWAYS; STATIONARY BLOCK SUPPORTING MEANS;A PAIR OF SPACED ROTARY MILLING CUTTER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGEAND LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BLOCK SUPPORTING MEANS, SAIDCUTTER MEANS HAVING AXIS OF ROTATION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TOSAID GUIDEWAYS; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID GUIDEWAYS;STATIONARY HOLDING MEANS ABOVE SAID BLOCK SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SECURELYHOLDING A BLOCK SUPPORTED ON SAID STATIONARY BLOCK SUPPORT MEANS; ANDMEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CUTTER MEANS.